Romanée St Vivant, Grand Cru, 2004

"A very subtle trace of wood frames notably pure and relatively high-toned fruit aromas that are rather fruit-forward in style as they precede the nicely complex and intense medium full flavors that are underpinned by slightly chunky though not rustic tannins on the solidly long finish. This is not what I would term a sophisticated example of the vineyard though I as note, it is certainly not rustic." Allen Meadows, Burghound

Since Frank Follin inherited vines originally under the control of the Louis Latour empire, he has been making sublime wines of concentration, purity and complexity. All of his vines from Aloxe-Corton, Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses and Romanée St Vivant are tended by hand and respectfully protected from any form of insecticide or pesticide, each betraying individuality, polish and great purity. The fermentations include up to 20% of whole bunches depending on the vintage, resulting in wines of suave, velvet textures. His cellars are cool and deep, so this process and the elevage are long, slow and gentle with minimal intervention, new oak percentages being kept to below 40%.

Romanée-St-Vivant is a great Grand Cru in the commune of Vosne-Romanée, taking its name from the monastery of St-Vivant founded at Vergy in the 10th Century. The vineyard are is quite large for this part of Vosne, just under 9.5ha, and is further fown the sloper with richer deeper soils than those of Richebourg and "the Romanées." The wines are excellent, typical Vosnes, silky and svelte with the richness and gravitas of a Grand Cru, though never reaching the mark of either of "the Romanées" or La Tâche. The best examples, however, can come close if not surpass some versions of Richebourg. The vineyard area is dominated by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti who is the largest owner with 5.3 ha, the next largest owners being Domaine Leroy and Louis latour's Domaine de Corton Grancey. Other fine examples are also made by Follin Arbelet, Sylvain Cathiard, Dujac and Robert Arnoux..

Pinot Noir is the classic grape of red burgundy, whose greatest wines are concentrated in the east and south-east-facing clay/limestone hills of Burgundy's Côte d'Or. A notoriously temperamental variety, Pinot Noir has proved difficult to grow in certain climates and soils and will not tolerate over-cropping. The best examples have wonderfully expressive aromas and thrillingly pure bitter sweet red forest fruit and cherry flavours, developing truffle and game overtones with age. Outside of Burgundy, Pinot Noir has had great success in New Zealand, California’s Carneros, Oregon and the more marginal, cooler districts in Australia. Along with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir is also one of the major components of Champagne.

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Tax Status Explained

IB stands for In Bond. Wines that are stored In Bond have not had UK Duty and VAT paid on them.

Most of our wines are available for purchase under bond, as fine wines often need to be laid down in order to allow them to mature. Many clients choose therefore to store them in our bonded warehouse and pay the tax as and when they wish to get the wines delivered. Please note that Wines purchased In Bond can be exported to non-EU countries without the need for Duty and VAT to be paid.

DP stands for duty paid. If you wish to get wines delivered for drinking, the duty and VAT will need to be paid as it leaves its bonded state in the warehouse. The wine is then said to be duty paid.

All taxes must be paid in order for us to be authorised to ship or deliver wine (unless the wine is bonded and being moved to another bonded warehouse or being shipped directly outside of the EU.)

EP stands for En Primeur. These wines are currently held with the Estate and Domaine’s we work with and will be shipped in due course.